Snowplow system, snow deflector apparatus and kit

Abstract

A snow deflector apparatus that easily attaches to a snowplow, a kit that includes two snow deflector apparatus and a control system, and to a snowplow system that includes two snow deflector apparatus and a control system. The snow deflector apparatus includes a deflector plate, a deflector plate rotator mechanism and at least one spring. The deflector plate is dimensioned to obstruct at least a substantial portion of the end of the blade of the snowplow such that an amount of snow that is sloughed off of the blade is minimized when the deflector plate is in a deployed position.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 883,004, filed on Dec. 31, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the filed of vehicle mounted snowplows for removing snow and, in particular, to snowplows and attachments thereto that prevent snow from sloughing off the end of the plow blade during use.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]Snow falls and accumulates in many places during the winter months and accumulated snow must be removed from roads, parking lots, driveways, etc., to allow vehicles to safely pass. There are a great number of methods for removing snow, but the most common method is to use a vehicle mounted plow. The most common type of plow is an angled blade plow, which may be moved to channel snow from an area in front of the plow vehicle to an area along the outer edge of the road, street or, in the case of a parking lot, to areas where the snow can be piled away from the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention is a snow deflector apparatus that easily attaches to a snowplow, a kit that includes two snow deflector apparatus and a control system, and to a snowplow system that includes two snow deflector apparatus and a control system.

[0013]In its most basic form, the snow deflector apparatus of the present invention includes a deflector plate, a deflector plate rotator mechanism and at least one spring. The deflector plate includes a bottom edge, a front edge, a rear edge, an inside surface and an outside surface and manufactured of a substantially rigid material. A substantial portion of the inside surface and the outside surface of the deflector plate is planar and the deflector plate is dimensioned to obstruct at least a substantial portion of the end of the blade of the snow plow such that an amount of snow that is sloughed off of the blade is minimized when the deflector plate is in a deployed position.

[0027]As should be readily evident, the snow deflector apparatus minimizes the amount of snow that sloughs off the blade when angled blade plowing and overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art snowplows and attachments discussed above. The apparatus is readily adapted for mounting to snowplow units mounted on existing vehicles, such as pickup trucks, Jeeps, SUV's etc. These vehicles would typically be found in geographic regions where winter snow accumulation must be cleared from driveways, parking lots, streets, etc. The deflector plates of the apparatus are readily adapted to existing plow designs and enhance the ability of the plow to effectively and efficiently move snow in both the straight and angles positions of the plow blade. Generally, the deflector plates can be extended forward of the blade and constantly maintain their position parallel to the forward direction of the plow unit when straight blade plowing. The deflector plates, even though they are at the edge of the blade, do not extend out past the edge of the blade. For this reason they cannot catch on obstructions outside the area of the plow blade regardless of the plow angle.

[0028]The kit and snowplow system are preferably designed so that the deflector plates can never be down or move down together when the blade is in the angled position. If the defector plates are both down for straight away plowing and the operator angles the blade to move the snow left, the left deflector plate, will move upward quickly to its full vertical position. The converse is true if the operator angles the blade to move the snow right. The deflectors are also protected from damage when plowing over uneven surfaces or when rammed into frozen piles of snow, sidewalks, edges of driveways curbs, etc. Just as the plow's scraping blade is protected by kick-up springs so are the deflectors protected by kick-up springs and rounding of the forward point of the deflector.

[0029]Therefore, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a plow and / or an attachment for existing plows that will prevent the sloughing of snow from the blade.

[0033]It is an aspect of the invention to provide a plow and / or an attachment for existing plows that does not limit the amount of angling of the plow in order to avoid damage to the vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

Effective and efficient snow plowing requires considerable effort.

In the case of the straight mode, it will slough off both ends, which is not desirable.

In the angled mode it will slough off the leading end, which is also not desirable.

However, they hinder the operation of the plow when it is used in an angled mode, as the snow cannot easily slide off of the plow blade to form a snow bank Rather, snow is trapped in the area between the blade and the structure and plowed snow must move across the trapped snow to the snow bank.

Because the plowed snow tends to stick to the trapped snow, this results in uneven snow banks.

Further, because the structure interferes with the compression of the snow bank, it is common for large loose clumps of snow that are not compressed into the snow bank to roll into the roadway.

Unfortunately, each has significant drawbacks that have prevented either invention from be placed in widespread commercial use.

However, this will only work for so long as it remains undamaged, and nature of the design makes such damage inevitable.

For example, the fixed design of the gate makes it extremely vulnerable to damage when plowing over rough dirt roads, uneven concrete, or asphalt having frost heaves, uneven joints or extending manholes.

Further, when plowing parking lots and driveways, it is common to not have enough space to push the snow against existing piles and, therefore, the operator needs to push the piles backward.

Unfortunately, existing piles tend to thaw and then refreeze between storms, which puts a great amount of stress on the blade, and attachment, when performing this task.

Even in the pulled back position, the side gate of U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,986 cannot withstand the stresses imposed on it under these circumstances.

In addition to the risk of damage to the gate, the use of a gate that retracts toward the vehicle either requires the plow to be mounted further in front of the vehicle than is normal or a limitation on the amount of angling of the plow in order to avoid damage to the vehicle.

Finally, this device cannot be easily mounted to existing plows, as it requires multiple welds and / or drilling and bolting.

However this attachment is even more prone to damage than the gate disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,986.

For example, the arm that forms the base of the gate is a relatively thin metal bar that is very easy to damage and would not withstand being jammed into a bank of icy snow when it is extended.

Accordingly, to protect the base, the user would need to raise the barriers before reaching the snow pile, which would greatly defeat the purpose of the gate.

Further, in dumping a full load of snow at the end of a plow run, it is often necessary to turn the vehicle while the plow remains in straight mode.

This turning would cause the snow to be forced against the flexible sides, causing them to collapse.

Further, like the gate of U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,986, this barrier is not easily mounted to existing plows.

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